Gaza casualties rise above 41,500 as conflict continues to escalate

Over the past two days, more than fifty Palestinians have been reported killed due to the actions of Israeli forces in the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to the enclave's Ministry of Health.

The ministry noted that "52 people were killed and 118 injured in the last 48 hours", Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Since the beginning of the military operation, the total number of casualties attributed to Israeli actions has reached 41,586, with 96,210 injuries reported.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated at the 79th UN General Assembly that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have eliminated 23 out of 24 battalions of Hamas. He emphasized that the military continues to assess Hamas's capabilities and dismantle its remaining infrastructure.

Netanyahu noted that Hamas was armed with 15,000 unguided rockets and had over 560 kilometres of underground tunnels. "The IDF has destroyed more than 90% of their missile arsenal and neutralized key components of their underground network," he said. He warned that Hamas could regain strength if its chain of command in Gaza remains intact, calling for "demilitarization and deradicalization" of the enclave.

The escalation in the region began on October 7, 2023, when armed members of Hamas infiltrated Israeli territory, resulting in the deaths of residents in border settlements and the capture of more than 240 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas's military and political structure and securing the release of hostages. The conflict in Gaza continues to unfold.

By Tamilla Hasanova